Ranjan Kapur, WPP India Chairman, no more

Ranjan Kapur, Chairman, WPP India, and former Managing Director, Ogilvy India, passed away suddenly on January 27 of a massive cardiac arrest. He was 76.

Kapur was a former Citibanker who spent 38 years with Ogilvy and 14 years with WPP. He retired as Chairman of Ogilvy in December 2003 and was named Country Head, WPP India. In 2017 he was named Chairman, WPP India.

In his role as ambassador representing the WPP Group, Kapur helped facilitate business development and orchestrate relevant cross-company activities between WPP companies.

A note from O & M India says Kapur established for Ogilvy India a leadership position. He broadened the O&M India network into diverse communication disciplines, notably Ogilvy Outreach, a rural communication network, Ogilvy Landscapes, an outdoor network, Ogilvy Healthcare and the Ogilvy Interactive, an early mover in the digital space.

In 2008 he was honoured with the Industry’s Lifetime Achievement Award of the Advertising Agencies Association of India.

At the time of his passing, he was on the Boards of Pidilite Industries and Abbott India, among others, and was Vice-Chairman of the Indian Cancer Society. He is a Founder Member of WPP India CSR Foundation and was also actively involved in the ISDI:WPP School of Communication that he helped create three years ago. He was a painter and sculptor in his spare time.